Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) is a disorder characterized by inflammation of the muscles. It affects between 3,000 and 5,000 children in the United States. Hallmarks of the disease include gradual muscle weakness and skin rash, both caused by swelling in the blood vessels under the skin and in the muscles. A skin rash may appear as a reddish-purple patch, or as a purple rash around the eyelids and cheeks.
In some cases, a skin rash and muscle weakness will develop simultaneously. In others, weak muscles may develop days, weeks or months after the initial rash. A child’s weakest muscles are those closest to the body, including the neck, shoulders, stomach and back.
Other symptoms include:
- Hardened lumps or sheets of calcium (calcinosis) under the skin
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble lifting the head
- Hoarse or weak-sounding voice
- Stomach problems
- Muscle pain
Treatment
There is not yet a cure for juvenile dermatomyositis. Medication, physical therapy and regular exercise can help children live normal, active lives. Treatment plans vary depending on the symptoms and complications of each individual. Specialists in the Neuromuscular Clinic and Center for Pediatric Rheumatology work together to diagnose and treat children with dermatomyositis.
Web Resources
The Myositis Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Information and Referrals
Gillette provides treatment and services for juvenile dermatomyositis through the Neuromuscular Clinic. For more information about the clinic, call 651-312-3176. To refer a patient to Gillette’s neuromuscular clinic, please call: 1-800-719-4040, ext. 3944, or 651-290-8707.
